Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday September 21st 2023

Seventeen singers came along to the Chichester evening session – a good turn out on an Autumn evening.

Alan explained that the song selection would include some from the forthcoming Fittleworth event as a good number of attendees were going.  The first half started confidently with old favourite "Country Life", "Ale Glorious Ale" followed and then "All Among the Barley" with a few discussions about the words.  "West Sussex Drinking Song" another old favourite followed before moving on to some newer material

 

Firstly the "Oak Tree Song" (that had been introduced at Worthing).  Both chorus and verses were tried this time.  It was agreed that this was a good work in progress and all agreed it was a good song.  In further preparation for the Fittleworth event the group tried a new round written specifically for the occasion -  "English Ale at the Swan".  This being sung to the tune of "Wassail All Your Apple Trees" – to be found on the SDFS Blog.  It was finally sung in four parts which was impressive!

 

The first half was rounded off with the popular "Farmer’s Toast".

 

Following well needed refreshment, the second half of the evening opened with "Turmut Hoer" broken up into male/female parts.  The ever popular "Oak and Ash and Thorn" followed by "One for the Rook" and the relatively newly introduced "Lammas Carol" and "My Downland Remembered".  All went very well. There was some starting note debate over "Brisk Young Ploughboy" which was resolved and the evening finished on a high note with "Thousands or More" which received applause from an impromptu bar audience.  Dave G did his excellent rendition of "Golia" with responses from the singers which delighted the bar audience further and then couldn’t resist a slightly risqué version of the new round which shall remain unpublished!

 

Anne S